Our Care Ministry is an ongoing ministry with all our members. We have a Prayer Chain, a Prayer Shawl ministry, Centus Counseling and our Stephen Ministry. Contact the church office, Pr. Peterson or one of the contacts listed below for more information.

Bethlehem Prayer Chain

Members who have requested to be on the prayer chain are called upon to pray for fellow members in times of need. Often the prayer requests are for people we don't know personally but for friends, neighbors or relatives of our members who have special needs.

The prayer chain is presently divided into two groups, who pass along the prayer requests within their small group—those who wish to be called on the phone and those who wish to receive the requests by email. For more information or to request prayers, contact Doris Slinger at 303-776-5436 or Nancy Tiff in the church office at 303-776-3290 or by email.

Centus Counseling

Centus is a top-tier provider of behavioral health services, education, and programs in metro Denver. We take pride in integrating every client's questions and concerns about their physical, behavioral, and spiritual self. We are champions of hopeful and healthy living. Whatever the problem, Centus is here to help. Our professional, licensed counselors can help you work through the challenging issues you or your family might be facing. Centus specialists have been offering their expertise and personal attention for 30 years. Centus is accredited by The Samaritan Institute, a leading network of counseling centers. A psychiatrist or family doctor works with our clinicians when consultation is needed. If you are seeking a psychiatrist to assess for medications or to supervise medication use, Centus can provide referrals for you.

For more than 20 years, Bethlehem has provided financial support and space in our building for a Samaritan Institute program. Currently, we also have a member on the Centus staff, Amanda Dawson. Amanda and her colleague, Ann Price, work out of our counseling office here at Bethlehem.

Bethlehem Prayer Shawl Ministry

You can be a part of this comforting ministry that provides special, hand-made prayer shawls to members experiencing difficult times in life. Two hands; a wish to either learn or renew a skill; a desire to share this time and talent with others—are all that it takes. The Prayer Shawl ministry meets from 10:00-11:30 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month from September through May (more details can be found in Connect/Prayer Shawl Ministry). Come and join us!

Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry is an international and interdenominational ministry founded in 1975 by Dr. Kenneth Haugk, a Midwestern Lutheran minister. Stephen Ministry is named for Saint Stephen, who, as documented in the book of Acts, was chosen by Christ's followers to provide caring ministry to people in need. Stephen Ministry is a program developed by Pastor Haugk to educate and equip lay people to care for one another through compassionate listening, prayer and companionship.

Stephen Ministers are available for anyone seeking compassionate Christian care during challenges in their life. Grief, loneliness, transitions, physical or emotional pain can knock us off balance at times. A Stephen Minister can help restore that balance. Stephen Ministers have been called to this ministry of Christian care-giving. After two years of training in active listening skills, Christian empathy, and using the tools of ministry, they are assigned care receivers. Everything between a Stephen Minister and a care receiver is kept in the strictest confidence.

A care receiver can be anyone dealing with the stresses and strains of life: the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, a life-changing illness, a new child, divorce, etc. Stephen Ministers are not therapists or counselors. They are called and trained to be Christian caregivers.

Stephen Ministry is available to the community of Bethlehem Lutheran by contacting the Bethlehem Lutheran Office (303- 776-3290), the Light of Christ office (303- 772-3785) or one of the Stephen Leaders: Barb Olander (303-651-3229), Chuck Cooper (303-324-3800), or Susan Finnegan (303-678-9992). For more information, contact Pastor Peterson.